Goldilocks

*spoilers* I thought this book would play out like the Lady Astronaut series, with landing on a new planet and setting up the civilization. Instead, the plot is really about a woman’s relationship to her adopted mother, her lover, her ex-husband, her baby, and, ultimately, humanity. She turns around at Mars to help humanity supposedly, but I get the feeling it’s so she can reunite with her lover for a happy ending. The “30 years later” chapter is unnecessary. No one cares about Iris.

Lams book combines a number of science fiction sub-genres including : Ark; climate change dystopia; and, simply space travel. She skips back and forth in time in the narrative. This is not my favorite format, as it can be hard to follow. However, Lam writes very clearly, and each chapter is headed with an annotation re where it occurs in the timeline of the story, so I actually enjoyed the jumping around.

The astronauts who leave Earth, and who are the main characters of the book are all women, including the egotistical leader of the adventure. This makes for a nice change! The perhaps main protagonist Naomi the botanist is the adopted daughter of the visionary but narrow leader Valerie, so that of course adds tension throughout.

The story has many anchors in the present day. One humorous, example: Valerie forms and leads a space exploration and more company called Hawthorne (SpaceX?!). There is also a scary human-devised disease spreading around Earth; ugh.

From what I know from working with astrophysicists and engineers, the science of space exploration and travel, using techniques like gravity assist, etc., are all well written. Lam is not a scientist herself, but did lots of research and consulting with scientists, as she discusses in the Afterword.

This book definitely held my interest! I strongly recommend it.

A dark and haunting speculative science fiction set in the near future. This isnt one for the faint of heart or who dont enjoy a little doom and gloom in their science fiction. It starts off with a setting reminiscent of The Handmaids Tale. Earth is dying. Men are in charge and women are oppressed. Famine and sickness are a plague on the planet and time for humanity is running out. Its up to group of women to save the human race. And they do that by stealing a spaceship. There is a planet that is suitable for human life and the women astronauts are on a life or death mission to colonize it. Naomi is making this trip with her adoptive mother Valerie, who is a wild character herself. The story isnt as much an action story as it is a narrative on humanity and exploring family and interpersonal relationships. It jumps back into each characters history and dives into their backstory and how they became the people they are. The story remains focused on the characters rather than the outside setting. Despite not having the riveting action that I expected it was a well written story with deep characters and good development and an interesting concept. I wish there had been more about the colonization of the new planet but most of the plot takes place during the trip there. This isnt my usual style of sci-fi that I read but it was enjoyable. This one has it all, a dystopian future, a feminist core cast, an interstellar spaceship trip and a ecological, climate friendly tone that makes for a good mix for a science fiction. Three and a half stars.

Goldilocks is a book that quietly sneaks up on you & draws you into this slightly-more-bleak version of our world, and it packs a pretty heavy emotional punch. I truly cant recall the last time I read a sci-fi novel that felt so disturbingly possible. This is a story thats occasionally very bleak and somber, but also one thats full of glimpses of hope, and of a (hopefully) brighter future. Oofthis is a story thatll stay with me for a long time.

The US has elected a religious zealot who gets laws passed to limit women’s freedom. Abortion is illegal, having more than one child is prohibitively taxed. Women have. Been driven out of most careers. And of course, climate change is affecti n the world dramatically. At the same time, earth is about to launch a ship to a likely planet for colonization. The ship was designed by a woman owned company but then the contract is stripped from her and given to her biggest rival. So she does the logical thing and steals the ship before it can take off without her. Excellent story, well paced, fantastic characters. Definite must read and tell others to read!

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